BAMAKO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Malian army said on Tuesday that its air force carried out a series of strikes in several localities across the country, killing dozens of terrorists and destroying vehicles as well as fuel and ammunition depots.
In a statement, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said the strikes were conducted on Monday as part of ongoing offensive reconnaissance missions across the national territory.
According to the statement, the first wave of strikes targeted an area west of Dioura, where the army said it had identified a major hideout used by armed terrorist groups. The operation destroyed six pickup trucks, several motorcycles, and a logistics depot containing fuel and ammunition concealed under vegetation.
A second series of strikes, launched north of the city of Sevare, killed around 50 terrorists and destroyed four pickup trucks, several motorcycles, and another large fuel and ammunition depot, the statement said.
The Malian military said a third series of strikes destroyed an armed terrorist group southeast of the city of Menaka, while pledging to continue pursuing such groups across the country. ■